Best projector for cold weather use?

[bm11]

I'm in the process of setting up my simulator in my garage, and the scenario I have may be a bit different with most of you in that I'm in Maine, and I'm setting this up in an non insulated (stone) garage. I'll be temporarily heating the space while in use, but I expect on the coldest nights my garage (and projector) may see temps of -10f. Because of this I initially was planning on just using a laptop to display ball flight (GC2 with FR1) but the more I think about it the more I'd like to have a projector, if possible.

Has anyone done anything similar to this? The closest real world experience I can relate is my friends cigar smoking setup. He has an area on his deck that he framed in and set up some chairs and a television with a space heater that he uses while smoking cigars. The same LCD TV has been going strong for three years now despite seeing Maine temperatures when he's not occupying it. This leads me to believe that this may be possible. I guess worst case scenario I'll set up an inexpensive TV as a display, and if the temp kills it, "oh well."

Thanks,

Bob

[aeroburner]

Don't spend 700 on a projector yet grab a good one off Craigslist for 200 and use it if it makes it through the winter with no issues upgrade and sell your other one.

[Thinman]

oh, nevermind, misread

[bm11]

Well, turns out there isn't much of a second hand projector market in Maine so I ordered an Optoma GT1080. I'll keep updating the thread as winter goes on.

[wbond]

Since you are mounting the GT1080 in a garage, check out this thread for an idea to address the fixed lens issue.

http://golfsimulatorforum.com/forum/build-your-own/projectors/63803-ceiling-mounting-to-be-able-to-change-projector-distance

[bm11]

Since you are mounting the GT1080 in a garage, check out this thread for an idea to address the fixed lens issue.

http://golfsimulatorforum.com/forum/build-your-own/projectors/63803-ceiling-mounting-to-be-able-to-change-projector-distance

Nice, thanks for that! Any pictures of that setup that you could share?

[goatbarn]

I have a BenQ 1070 in my garage that I only heat when in use.

I just make sure to not turn it on until the room is "heated".

Electronics usually love the cold, they just hate the dampness (condensation) that you'll get going from hot to cold to hot...etc.

That's why I let it "warm up" first.

I've had 3 different projectors, all in my garage, all non-heated except for during use, and no issues with any of them....so far.

[wbond]

The picture is inthe thread? If you can't see it let me know I can send later. It's a link thru photobucket so it could be blocked if your at work. Makes it easy to adjust center and front to back

Nice, thanks for that! Any pictures of that setup that you could share?

[goatbarn]

I believe he's talking about your "setup", like your whole sim setup...not just projector mount.

[bm11]

I have a BenQ 1070 in my garage that I only heat when in use.

I just make sure to not turn it on until the room is "heated".

Electronics usually love the cold, they just hate the dampness (condensation) that you'll get going from hot to cold to hot...etc.

That's why I let it "warm up" first.

I've had 3 different projectors, all in my garage, all non-heated except for during use, and no issues with any of them....so far.

Nice, that's good news for me! Thanks!

[Ironstrokes]

Well, turns out there isn't much of a second hand projector market in Maine so I ordered an Optoma GT1080. I'll keep updating the thread as winter goes on.

I have had my optoma1080 ST projector mounted up in the garage for the last year and a half and while it may not get to -10 here in the philly area. Itll get in the teens and lower sometimes and ive had no issues with going out to the garage and firing everything up all at once from the dead cold. Never had any condensation issues or anything. And my detached garage isn't insulated either. So just a little addition to the good advice goatbarn gave. His advice is probably the smartest thing to do for your electronics, but just letting you know that it worked for me as well doing the less then optimal thing as well haha.

Still works like new a year and a half into doing this. Hope everything works well for you as well.

[fortysixandtwo]

If you're garage gets down to 10 or -10? I think either way the projector could get damaged in those conditions...frost, condensation etc.
Anything below mid 30's* and I would bring the projector and other electronics inside..

[Bastiaan]

Can I just ask how easy it is to take the projector down each night and but it back on? How long does that take?

[Ironstrokes]

Can I just ask how easy it is to take the projector down each night and but it back on? How long does that take?

That would be not worth it at all to me. Unless you have it on the floor. When it's on the ceiling it is usually screwed into a mount unless you buy/make something that it can sit on and you can pull it off easily. Still most likely means pulling out a ladder each time though.

I do bring my skytrak and iPad in from the garage each time but if I did the projector would make it take forever. I got a feeling you'd be alright leaving it out there like i have with no issues for a year and a half+ now, but definitely get being worried about it.

Just as I've heard others day before though, the longer it takes for you to set up, the less likely you are going to use it

[fortysixandtwo]

I know with the benq mount, it has a quick release latch to take it down from the mounting pole.
You could try just a cheap projector to see how it handles the elements before investing in a higher end model..

[bm11]

Update- so far so good. Coldest temps realized have been 8F.